Debate contribution: Neurology Services

Debate contribution by Mr Peter Martin on 9 December 2025.

MLA

Mr Peter Martin

Party at the time

Democratic Unionist Party

Date

9 December 2025

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

Neurology Services

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5296381

Read the official Assembly record

Text

Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. I will skip past the first sentence, as some Members may have heard it already. I have written to the Minister on a number of occasions. Health is not my area. Previously I was on the Education Committee, and now I am on the Infrastructure Committee. Most of my interest in writing to the Minister is because constituents have approached me, and I have met a number of them who suffer with Parkinson's disease or MS. I imagine that a number of them are watching today. The Minister has written back to me on a number of occasions, and I want to try to be fair to him. The best representation is, "I would like to do more, but I probably need more money." I hope that that is fair comment on what the Minister has said to me. As has been highlighted in the debate, in England, about half of the neurology patients are seen within the 18-week NHS target for treatment, and, in Northern Ireland, as has been mentioned, we have patients who wait for more than five years. When I looked up the NHS statistics, they place it in the negative: they say that it is pretty bad that some patients are waiting for more than 18 weeks. I thought, "My goodness, you want to see what Northern Ireland is like." You could make the argument, and it has been made, that funding for Health is the reason for those excessive waits. However I do not think it fair just to make that case. As has been mentioned, Health receives about 51% of the Budget. However, health spend in England, whilst it varies by region and is a complicated mix, is about £12,000 to £15,000 per person, and yet, in Northern Ireland, we spend £16,000 in a comparable per capita figure.

I thank the Member for his intervention. I worry that it is the Christmas season: I agree with him. We do not have the economies of scale. I accept that as well. We have some of the problems that Mr Carroll has suggested, and, in comparison, the Republic of Ireland spends about one third of what we spend in Northern Ireland on health. Clearly, there is a reason for that: it is a private system. It spends about £5,000 per year per capita. However, you can see where I am generally going with this. In England, they spend less per capita, but they achieve better outcomes. That leads me to conclude that it is not necessarily all about the money; it is about the system. The Minister is right with his shift left idea. Earlier diagnosis and support will not only achieve better outcomes for patients but will be much more cost-effective. Those things are absolutely clear and undisputed. It would be wrong of me, at this point, not to acknowledge the clinicians in the sector. I have spoken to lots of patients and, without exception, they say that their clinical care, when they receive it, is second to none, so I thank the clinicians, who are doing their best. Recently I, like others, met the Northern Ireland Neurological Charities Alliance and Treasa and Bill, whom Mr McGuigan referenced, and I heard about the difficulties that the sector faces. The Minister needs to get to grips with the workforce challenges, particularly in neurology and specialist nursing. As Miss McAllister mentioned, pathways need to be improved. Workforce planning and, in particular, training places are key to that. The Minister mentioned the regional review of neurology and the need for more consultants, nurses and allied health professionals. I am conscious that, as MLAs, we often stand here and make speeches — yes, that is undoubtedly part of our job — but let us be honest with people: no one who has spoken in the debate walks in the shoes of someone with Parkinson's disease or MS. We probably do not see at first hand or experience personally the debilitating effects of those dreadful diseases unless we are unfortunate enough to have a parent or relative with one. According to recent research by the Northern Ireland Neurological Charities Alliance, only 22% of those people feel supported by the healthcare system in Northern Ireland. That has to change. I am so glad that, across the board, Members support our motion. To be clear: we will also support the Alliance amendment. We need implementation of some of the things that were talked about today. My job in winding up is to summarise the debate a little bit, which I will do, if people will indulge me. I thank my colleague Diane for opening up for us. She mentioned waiting times and the particular problems that patients face across Northern Ireland. Danny mentioned the FightForNeuro campaign and the change of culture that has to take place in neurology in Northern Ireland. Philip highlighted the work of NINCA and mentioned Treasa and Bill in particular. Clearly, their story had an impact on him. Alan mentioned the evidence-based review, which did, and does, place patients at the centre. Colin shared a very personal story about a constituent who really felt abandoned in the middle of the dreadful situation in which they found themselves. Linda is not in her place, but she mentioned how early intervention and support would make a huge difference to patient outcomes. My good colleague Alan Robinson made the excellent point that the situation cannot remain the same. For patients across Northern Ireland who are suffering from those illnesses, it simply has to improve. Gerry mentioned Jeanette and Catherine. In particular, he spoke about Jeanette, who has a diagnosis of FND, having received great support from FND Matters Northern Ireland. The Minister took us through the review and talked about how we had to optimise the configuration for neurology. He said that we can, and simply must, do better. He highlighted the fact that it is not acceptable for a quarter of neurology patients to be admitted with no neurologist in place, and I agree completely. In winding up on the amendment, Nuala mentioned training places and workforce planning. A lot of the issues that we have talked about in the debate will not be solved today, and they would probably not even be solved if the Minister were to get more money in next year's Budget. We all know the challenges around the Budget. However, like many of the problems that the Executive face, it reminds me of the Indian proverb that asks, "How do you eat an elephant?". The answer is, "One bite a day". I am not suggesting that anyone leaves this place, finds an elephant and tries to eat it. It simply points out that, in order to tackle the big problems that we face, we have to start somewhere. I urge the Minister of Health to look at this area, examine the review and do what he can to find the money to fund it. It will make a real and present difference to people who are suffering with these incredibly debilitating illnesses across Northern Ireland.

1,186 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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